ARTICLES ABOUT WORLD POWERS BY DATE - PAGE 4

* Upset Saudis hint at building ties with other powers * But U.S. is only ally that can protect Saudi oil fields * Pursuing nuclear weapons would bring isolation - analyst * Riyadh working closely with Paris on Iran, Syria By Angus McDowall RIYADH, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia seems to have few viable options for pursuing a more independent and forthright foreign policy, despite its deep unease about the West's tentative rapprochement with Iran. Upset with the United States, senior Saudis have hinted at a range of possibilities, from building strategic relations with other world powers to pushing a tougher line against Iranian allies in the Arab world and, if world powers fail to foil Tehran's nuclear ambitions, even seeking its own atomic bomb.

* Deal halts Iran nuclear progress, U.S. says * Agreement follows marathon talks in Geneva * "This is only a first step" - Iran minister * Most sanctions to remain in place -Kerry (Adds U.N. reaction, analyst comment, details, quotes) By Parisa Hafezi and Justyna Pawlak GENEVA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Iran and six world powers reached a breakthrough deal early on Sunday to curb Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for limited sanctions relief, in what could be the first sign of an emerging rapprochement between the Islamic state and the West.

JERUSALEM, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government denounced world powers' nuclear agreement with Iran on Sunday as a "bad deal" that Israel did not regard itself as bound by. "This is a bad deal," an official in Netanyahu's office said. "Israel does not see itself as bound by this bad, this very bad agreement that has been signed," Economic Minister Naftali Bennett, a member of Netanyahu's security Cabinet, told Israel's Army Radio.

DUBAI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said a deal struck with world powers on Sunday had recognised Iran's nuclear programme and in a final "step" all sanctions on the Islamic republic would be lifted. Speaking on Iran's Press TV, Zarif said the deal was an opportunity for the West to restore trust with the Iranian nation, adding Tehran would expand cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, to address what he called some concerns.

DUBAI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday Tehran wanted friendly ties with all countries, including the United States, on the day Iran begins a new round of talks with world powers on its disputed nuclear programme. "We want to have friendly relations with all nations, even the United States," he told an audience of Basij militiamen. "We are not hostile to the American nation. They are like other nations in the world," he said.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iran will meet this week in Geneva with the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany to discuss a proposed deal under which Tehran would suspend parts of its nuclear program in exchange for limited sanctions relief. Iran denies allegations by Western powers and their allies that it is seeking the capability to produce atomic weapons and insists its nuclear ambitions are limited to the peaceful generation of electricity. Following are questions and answers about the proposed deal based on comments from government officials, diplomats and nuclear experts.